Improvement in securing plaster to walls



P. H. Pu w'en.

Securing Plaster to Walls.

Patented Aug.4,1874.

THE FRAPHIC EO- PHOTO-L|TH.39& 4| P ARK PLACE, NY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK H. POWER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SECURING PLASTER TO WALLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 53,781, dated August4, 1874; application filed May 1, 1874.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, PATRICK H. POWER, of New York city, in the countyand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSecuring Plastered Ceilings, Walls, and Plaster-Moldings, of which thefollowing is a specification:

This invention relates to the ceilings and walls of buildings, andconsists of a support for preventing the plastering from becomingdetached from the laths.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a face view of a plastered ceiling, whichillustrates my invention. of Fig. 1, showing the joists.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the plastered ceiling or wall, attached to the ordinary laths B. C,Fig. 2, represents the joists. D is a net-work, of wire-cloth or othersuitable material, which is laid over the plasterin g and secured to thejoists (through the mortar) by nails or screws, as seen in the drawing.Ordinarily, and preferably, I place this wire or other support over thelast coat of mortar, as seen in the drawing, and then put the coat ofhard-finish E over it; but the wire or other support may be appliedbefore the last coat of mortar is put on.

In plastered walls or ceilings, it is well known that the differentcoats of mortar are not likely to separate, so that if the scratchcoatis supported as I propose, the coats of mortar subsequently applied willadhere to the scratch-coat, and consequently be supported and preventedfrom falling. This support may be strong twine, tightly drawn or nettedand attached to the joists, or wirecloth, braided or woven. It may be ofany suitable material placed over one or more coatings of mortar,secured to the joists or furrings by nails, screws, or in any securemanner. I prefer the mode shown in the drawing,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line as m where thereis to be ahard-finish coat appliedthat is, simple wires of any suitable sizepassing over the mortar in any manner, either parallel with the walls orwood finish, diagonally, or circular, woven or linked together, or inseparate pieces, and securely attached to the joists, as described.

7 The importance of this invention will be obvious if we consider themany narrow escapes and not infrequent fatal casualties, the result offalling mortar from the ceiling. The plastering becomes loosened fromthe laths, sometimes by constant jarring and sometimes by the action ofwater leaking through thefloor, and drops in heavy masses, crushingeverything on which it falls. People have been instantly killed in theirbeds, and many crippled for life, to say nothing of the fright andhairbreadth escapes which almost all have experienced from this cause.The damage to frescoed ceilings and to furniture in dwellings, and togoods in stores and warehouses, from this cause, can hardly beestimated.

I am aware that wire-cloth has been heretofore used instead of wooden oriron lathing, but have found the clench of the plaster in the meshes tobe impaired by frost or moisture, so asfrequen tly to fall and causegreat destruction of property, expense, and annoyance. Hence I firstform the walls in plaster, then draw the wiregauze over them, and drivehome the nails. I

Having thus described my invention, what 1 g I claim as new, anddesireto secure by Letters Patent, isp The net-work D, laid over theplastering and secured to the joists, as and for the pur- Witnesses:

T. B. MOSHER, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

